The Current - Deadly earthquakes hit Venezuela

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

The search for survivors continues as thousands are feared dead following two massive earthquakes, 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse in the capital city, and devastation throughout the region. We check in with Caracas-based journalist Ana Vanessa Herrero, for the latest on rescue efforts.

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This is a CBC podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is the current podcast. That's the sound of parts of the ceiling collapsing at an airport in Venezuela on Wednesday. Two massive earthquakes hit the region one after the other with a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5. They were the most powerful earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas and causing widespread devastation throughout the region. More than 500 people are confirmed dead and some 4,300 people are injured. But the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the death toll will likely be in the thousands.

More international rescue teams have been arriving today. Yesterday, Canada announced it is providing $5 million in humanitarian assistance. Anna Vanessa Arrero is a journalist based in Caracas. That's where we've reached her. Good morning. Good morning. Where were you when this earthquake struck? I was just getting home from the airport.

I returned from a trip and just hours before the airport collapsed, I was there. And, you know, the rest we know. We didn't really understand the magnitude of the situation just then. But now we do. And it's devastating, heartbreaking. And I've been on the ground since the first responders started working. So I've seen the evolution of this tragedy. What have the last couple of days been like in Caracas?

There are images of buildings collapsed, but also, as I said, people desperately searching for those who are under the rubble. What has it been like over the last few days? Well, exactly that. The efforts are definitely there. And, you know, the first responders are working nonstop. But mostly it's the civilians, the family members who are gathering. outside the buildings that collapsed, waiting for their families. And there are the ones who are organizing this search teams in the, you know,

immediately after the earthquake hit. And they are the ones who are there still without any sleep helping the first responders understand the grounds, the buildings, the apartments, how did they look like to get a sense of where the person could be. So this has been a titanic mission to recover the people that they've recovered alive. Before the earthquake, I mean, you have an economy that is in tatters, you have shortages at hospitals, you have political turmoil as well. How capable is the state, and you've kind of hinted at this, that people are taking the lead in some ways,

but how capable is the state to help people with the recovery? Well, because people are taking lead, we can definitely say that this say was not prepared for this. And it's not that Venezuela has no history of earthquakes like the one we experienced. That is also true. But there are no protocols. And mostly there are no resources and no machinery, no tools. I mean, first responders are asking people to bring them masks, gloves, helmets, the basic gears just to start looking for survivors.

And yesterday, I heard that I'm asking for flashlights to continue the efforts throughout the night because if they don't have what they need, of course they're going to have to stop. And you can only imagine millions of Venezuela stopping research just because they don't have what it takes. The reports are that, what, tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for? And so there is desperation, right? The clock is ticking in many ways. It is ticking, and families know that. And families told me this Thursday, and they were really scared and worried that the government was taking way too long to respond to the tragedy.

But again, the government doesn't really have what it takes to respond to this tragedy. So it was a never-ending cycle, the vicious cycle. And in the end, you know, at the end, it's the people, the ones who are suffering. So the comments yesterday on the ground were surrounding revolving the lack of efforts of how they didn't, they wouldn't do in this quickly enough. You have a friend who is in one of the hardest hit areas in La Guada, right? Yes, yes, I do. Have you been able to reach her?

No, no, I have not. That must be really hard. I mean, again, there's a lot of frustration and also just worry. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, and we don't know where she is. She has a baby, but like me, thousands are now looking for the loved ones. And I just, my heart breaks for them. And we're doing everything I can, everything we can.

I am thinking about going to La Wai-da. and go to her where she lived to see what happened. Because if I see her that her building has not collapsed, then she might be okay. But if her building collapsed, then I can definitely focus the search efforts on that area, at least call someone and say that she might be under there. But like me, thousands are doing the same thing.

So you can only imagine how overwhelmed everyone. is. It is a desperate situation. I'm glad to talk to you about it. I wish you the very best in terms of finding and connecting with your friend. In the meantime, Anna Vanessa Arrero, thank you very much. Take care. Thank you. Anna Vanessa Arrero is a journalist. We reached her in Caracas. You've been listening to the current podcast. My name is Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you soon. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.